Evangel University professors publish study on love

SPRINGFIELD, MO. —Two Evangel University professors have published an analysis of love from two perspectives in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

The article, “Loving God and Loving Others: Learning about Love from Psychological Science and Pentecostal Perspectives,” appeared in the summer 2012 issue.

“In psychology, love is an attitude, not an emotion” said Dr. Geoffrey W. Sutton, professor of psychology (pictured at top). “We expanded this understanding using a six-dimensional model that goes by the acronym, SCOPES. Those six dimensions are Spiritual, Cognitive, Observable Behavior, Physical / Biological, Emotional and Social Space.”

Dr. Martin W. Mittelstadt, associate professor of biblical studies (at right), reviewed the history of love from the early days of Pentecost to more recent expressions of compassion.

Mittelstadt earned his Ph.D. in biblical studies from Marquette University in 2001. He is an associate professor of New Testament at Evangel University. He is published extensively on history of interpretation and theology of Luke-Acts in Pentecostalism.

Sutton, a 1972 Evangel graduate, completed his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia (1981). He is a licensed psychologist and has been a professor of psychology at Evangel University since 2001. Dr. Sutton conducts research on spirituality, forgiveness and other virtues. He is the author of more than 60 publications.

Evangel University is a private, Christian university of arts, sciences and professions. With an enrollment of more than 2,000 students from all 50 states and abroad, Evangel offers more than 100 undergraduate academic programs and nine master’s programs.

Evangel University is a private, Christian university of arts, sciences and professions. With an enrollment of more than 2,000 students from all 50 states and abroad, Evangel offers more than 100 undergraduate academic programs and nine master's programs.

About Evangel

Evangel is an accredited, liberal arts university with more than 100 academic programs on the cutting edge of today's professional fields. Our commitment to the integration of faith, learning and life attracts students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.